Washing and drying apparatus

ABSTRACT

A washing and drying apparatus having a plurality of elongated rollers which are power driven so as to produce a propelling surface for transporting material through a cleaning solution and a drying station.

United States Patent 1111 3,570,504

[72] I Inventor Jo J- 'an [56] References Cited Paul, Minn- UNITED STATES PATENTS 4 3,56 3 l a ue 1 Appl No 764 9 o 893 s g 134/122 [221 PM 1971 1,374,335 4/1921 Sundh 134/64 pafifmed C 1,488,553 4/1924 Peacock.... 134/122x Asslgnee f' P 1,609,474 12/1926 Jacobson 134/122 2,784,119 3/1957 McCown m1 134/122x 2,998,823 9/1961 McCown et a1... 134/83X 3,082,774 3/1963 Benton etal l34/83X [54] WASHING AND DRYING APPARATUS Primary Examiner-Robert L. Bleutge 2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs Attorney-Stryker and Jacobson [52] U.S.C| 134/64,

134/33 ABSTRACT: A washing and drying apparatus having a plu- [51] lnt.CI. B08b 3/10 rality of elongated rollers which are power driven so as to [50] Field ofSearch 134/64, 83, produce a, propelling surface for transporting material through 1 122 a cleaning solution and a drying station.

k 0 1 Q l n 53 Patented Mafch 16, 1971 BLOWER HEATER BLOWER Fig. 2

INVENTOR JOHN J. FRA/VTZE/V.

ATTORNEY WASHING AND DRYING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to washing and drying apparatus and, more specifically, to an automated washing and drying apparatus for sheet material.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the process of etching large sheets of material it is necessary to perform a number of steps. One of the steps involves washing the etched sheet and drying it before it is stacked and shipped. Typically, this operation has been performed manually by an operator who places the etched sheet in a cleaning solution. Next, the operator blots the sheet until it is relatively dry and then he places the sheet in a drying unit referred to by those skilled in the art as a dry box. This technique of washing and blotting and then removing any residual moisture in a dry box produces good results, however, it is a relatively slow process as the sheets must be handled a number of times during the washing and drying process.

The conventional method of processing these sheets comprises feeding a continuous web through a number of processing stations. Prior to applying the final etchant, a machine severs the web into smaller rectangular or square sheets. These smaller sheets must be washed and dried after application of the final etchant to remove any contaminants on the sheet. Ideally it would be advantageous to wash and dry the etched sheet as part of these production line processing stations. However, to date it has not been possible as conventional conveyor belt systems for transporting these sheets has proven unsatisfactory because the conveyor belt remains wet after passing through the washing solution. Obviously, if the conveyor belt remains wet it is difficult, if not impossible, to dry any sheet material on it. If a second conveyor belt located remotely from the washing solution is used to receive the sheet as it emerges from the washing solution, this second belt also becomes wet in time from the moisture retained by the sheet. In addition, even if a second conveyor belt were maintained in a dry condition, the contact area between the conveyor belt and the etched sheet is inaccessible to conventional drying means.

In order to overcome the problems associated with conveyor belts and the like, I have provided a propelling surface comprising a plurality of elongated, parallel, spaced rollers. These rollers remain stationary as they rotate about a central axis, however, the rotating motion of the roller propels material from the top of one roller to the top of an adjacent roller. This type of propelling motion moves only the sheet and not the entire conveyor belt. Thus some of the rollers can be located in a washing solution and some of the rollers can be located in a drying region without having continual transfer of the solution by the conveying mechanism. In addition, because the sheet moves over the rollers, this type of system is especially adapted for drying by hot air techniques. That is, hot air blowers can be located above and below the rollers so as to blow hot air on both sides of the etched sheet. Furthermore, because no portion of the sheet remains in continuous contact with the propelling surface the entire sheet is exposed to the hot drying air. Also any moisture transferred to the rollers from the sheet material quickly evaporates as the roller surface is continuously exposed to hot air. Other advantages of mywashing and drying station will become apparent in the description of the preferred embodiment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, this invention comprises a washing and drying apparatus having a propelling surface comprising parallel, spaced, elongated rollers for continuously and automatically propelling sheet material through a washing solution and a dryer unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is.a schematic of my washing and drying apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a side view of my washing and drying apparatus partially in section; and

FIG. 3 is a partial top view of my washing and drying apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF'THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 generally designates a schematic of my washing and drying apparatus comprising a pluralityof rollers 11, a solution tank 12, a top blower-heater unit 13, and a lower blower-heater unit 14. A number of sheets designated by reference numeral 15 are shown located on top of the rollers 1 1.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, reference numeral 20 designates an in line washing and drying apparatus. Apparatus 20 comprises a stand 21 rigidly fastened to floor 22 through suitable fastening means (not shown). Located in stand 21 are a pair of parallel end support bars 23 having a plurality of rollers '24 journaled therein for providing an arcuate propelling surface. End support bars 23 pass through a solution tank 12 that fastens to stand 21 through suitable fastening means (also not shown). Located on the top of stand 21 is a first blower 30, a first motor 31 for driving the blower and a first air heating unit 32. A duct 35 directs the heated air from heating unit 32 through a diverging elbow 36 onto the top of rollers 24. Similarly, located on the bottom of stand 21 is a second blower 40, a second motor 42 for driving the blower and a second air heating unit 43. A duct 44 directs the heated air from heating unit 43 through a diverging elbow 45 and on to the underside of the rollers 24. Both heating units 32 and 43 contain air filters to remove dirt particles so only clean air discharges over the etched sheets as they pass on top of the propelling surface provided by the rollers. Rollers 24 comprise a number of elongated, parallel, spaced rollers having a first sprocket wheel 50 and a second sprocket wheel 51 located on one end. A number of endless chains, generally designated by reference numeral 53, connect the sprocket on each roller to the sprocket on the roller immediately adjacent to itself. This provides a continual mechanical connection between the rollers so that rotation of one roller produces a corresponding rotation of the other rollers thus creating a propelling surface for moving a sheet of material thereover. Typically, rollers 24 are made from a metallic material so they rapidly transfer any retained heat to the sheet material thus aiding in drying. Also, any moisture on the rollers evaporates quickly from these heated metal rollers. Although metal rollers are preferred, it is apparent that other roller materials would also be suitable.

A motor drives the rollers through a sprocket 61 which fastens to one of the rollers through a differential 62, a sprocket 63 and an endless chain 64.

To more fully understand my novel process of washing and drying apparatus, the operation will now be described. Typically, rollers 24 receive a sheet and propel it along successive rollers and through a solution of deionized water in tank 12. In

normal operation the water is maintained at 200 F. through conventional temperature control means (not shown). The rollers continue to propel the etched sheet 15 through the deionized water and up a slight incline at the rate that does not exceed 65 inches per minute. This speed range is preferred as it is suitable for obtaining adequate drying and also matches up with the speed of the processing stations. Rollers 24 continue to propel the sheet between the hot air emerging from elbow 36 and elbow 45. Typically, the hot air emerging from elbow 36 and elbow 45 is maintained at a temperature of approximately 400 F. so as to quickly dry both sides of the etched sheets.

When the etched sheet 15 leaves the drying area between the elbows 36 and 45, it emerges as a clean, dry, sheet free of any contaminants. Thus, it is apparent that my apparatus is ideally suited for mounting as an integral part of an assembly line process so as to eliminate the conventional manual handling and washing and drying of sheets of material.

ing all of said elongated rollers; said means comprising a pair of sprocket wheels on each roller each connected to an adjacent roller through an endless chain belt; and drying means for supplying hot air to the top and bottom of said propelling surface in an impinging relation against a sheet of material that emerges from said cleaning solution.

2. The invention as described in claim 1 wherein said last drying means includes a first drying unit for directing hot air on the top of a sheet of material and a second drying unit for directing hot air at the underside of a sheet of material. 

1. Apparatus for cleaning and drying a sheet of material comprising: a stand; a plurality of elongated parallel rollers generally mounted on said stand so as to form a level propelling surface with a downward bending arcuate portion in the middle; a solution tank mounted on said stand below said propelling surface, said solution tank adaptable for receiving cleaning solution to a level above the top of the lower part of the arcuate portion of said propelling surface; means connected to said plurality of elongated rollers for driving all of said elongated rollers; said means comprising a pair of sprocket wheels on each roller each connected to an adjacent roller through an endless chain belt; and drying means for supplying hot air to the top and bottom of said propelling surface in an impinging relation against a sheet of material that emerges from said cleaning solution.
 2. The invention as described in claim 1 wherein said last drying means includes a first drying unit for directing hot air on the top of a sheet of material and a second drying unit for directing hot air at the underside of a sheet of material. 